The Brush Tae Kwon Do Club offers instruction in the art of discipline, respect and martial arts to both adults and K-12 students at the Thomson Primary School gymnasium on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. Although last year the program ran year-round, this year’s classes will run with the school schedule, with summers off. The club’s success is due in large part to several volunteer members who help organize and instruct the dojo practices and it was volunteer coordinator and participant Ms. Tracey Singley, a Second Grade teacher at Thomson, who got the tae kwon do organization up and running. Not only do instructors reinforce the physical aspect of the art of tae kwon do, but practices also focus largely on building mental strength as well. “We focus on making sure not only that kids learn the art and the discipline of the art, but that they also focus on school studies,” noted coordinator Joe Mattorano. Students must have passing grades to participate in practices and competitions and during many exercises, such as an obstacle course that is sometimes set up during practice, students must also solve mathematical equations, word problems and other school-related questions as part of their training. Recently the Brush Club sent several young members to a Tae Kwon Do competition at the East Middle School in Aurora, and several Brush members earned medals in three separate areas of the art, including grappling, sparing and forms.

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The tournament was the second competition attended by member of the Brush Tae Kwon Do club and students who earned special medals included:Addison Kaber earned a bronze for third place in grappling, and a silver medal for second place in forms. Her father Josh Kaber earned his own medals, including a gold for first in grappling. Aaron Miller earned second place honors in grappling, second in form and a third place medal in sparing. Michael Luark earned third in grappling and in sparing. Rebecca Boone earned a third place bronze medal in grappling. Maya Dardanes earned a gold medal for first in forms, second in sparing and third in grappling. Christopher Boone earned a bronze medal for third in grappling. Faith Gettman earned third in forms, second in sparing and second in grappling. Austin Mahagan earned first in grappling, second in sparing and third in forms. Carson won first in grappling, second in sparing and third in forms.

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